Working With Boron-Alloyed Steel – Removal (Cutoff Wheel)

When attempting to cut boron-alloyed steel using a cutoff wheel, you may question whether you will even be able to cut the part or just be using up discs?

The good news is that a cutoff wheel is a great way to remove spot welds or large pieces of a damaged boron-alloyed part. Depth control may be an issue, which can make it difficult to cut only one panel. Depth control when removing spot welds can be done by closely monitoring the grinding area. To do this, move the cutoff wheel back and forth until the metal turns slightly blue or a line is seen around the spot weld, which is an indication that it has gone through the first panel. Stop at this point and move on to the next weld.

There may be some concern about how much heat is generated from this removal method. The amount of heat that is generated from the cutoff wheel is only about 148ºC (300ºF) in the immediate grind area. This temperature is far below any kind of welding that will be done on a vehicle so the heat-affect zone (HAZ) in this case is not a concern.

Some may find that a thin cutoff wheel works the best, while others like to use a thicker cutoff wheel. It is a good idea to try both to see which disc you prefer. After the welds have been ground to the correct depth, chisel the welds apart to remove the panel.

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